I am writing to share my thoughts and concerns regarding the newly launched "Love, Kansas" initiative. While this campaign, led by Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland, is a commendable effort to attract former Kansans and new families to our state, it fails to address significant challenges faced by current residents, particularly those striving to purchase homes and establish deeper roots within our communities.
The "Love, Kansas" campaign aims to highlight Kansas as an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family by focusing on our state’s abundant job opportunities, high quality of life, excellent education system, and affordable communities. The initiative's emphasis on "boomerangs"—individuals with previous ties to the state—underscores a strategic effort to bring back those who once called Kansas home. While this approach is admirable, it inadvertently overlooks the pressing issues faced by many Kansans who are already here.
Many young adults in Kansas struggle to transition from renters to homeowners. Despite having higher education and stable employment, the high cost of housing creates a substantial barrier to homeownership. This demographic is critical to the future of our state, yet they face significant obstacles in establishing financial stability and building lasting ties to their communities.
To address these concerns, I propose that the "Love, Kansas" initiative be expanded to include resources and opportunities for current residents. Providing financial incentives and support for existing Kansans to purchase homes would encourage them to stay and continue contributing to our State's success. Programs similar to the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) initiative, but inclusive of those already residing in these zones, could provide the much-needed stability and economic support for our current population. By offering such support, we can retain the talent and dedication of those who have already chosen Kansas as their home.
A small town’s approach to businesses can be a deciding factor for young people on whether to live there or not. New and small businesses are essential to the economy of rural communities. For young entrepreneurs, the right ingredients can make a big difference to start or grow a business—and for all who live there, the success of businesses is critical to keeping the community thriving. Perhaps the greatest of these ingredients is the openness to new ideas. Removing barriers and reducing friction for business owners is the goal.
Like all other challenges, the approach will need to be systemic and involve many aspects of a community—not just state and local governments, but housing, child care, local attitudes, and more. Rural Kansas should find ways to build on the ecosystem infrastructure that NetWork Kansas has established. A benefit of the NetWork Kansas model is that it pairs local control of funding decisions with statewide matching funds. Expanding outreach efforts would be a solid action that could make a difference.
Rural communities and counties could consider redirecting tax dollars from larger established businesses to supporting entrepreneurs. They could create locally directed and funded angel investment capital programs, pair existing business owners with new entrepreneurs for mentorship and coaching, view restoration of buildings as "site development" for entrepreneurs rather than site development for traditional recruitment, waive property taxes for any entrepreneur starting a new business in a currently vacant building, and connect existing K-12 efforts with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in a community/entrepreneurship internship model. Counties could provide additional incentives and capital to entrepreneurs planning to start a business in needed sectors such as child care, building trades, health care, tech, restaurants, and culture.
Starting in high school, create and nurture this mindset. Help new entrepreneurs know where to find support locally or in the network, and know about shared services and platforms for commerce. A continued emphasis on career and technical education, particularly building trades and tech jobs, could be emphasized as not only a career but a service to rural communities.
Local communities can take a number of approaches both big and small to support businesses. They could establish local revolving loans funds to assist with gap financing; offer professional consulting services (accounting, legal, business plan development, art, etc.) for entrepreneurs; celebrate, feature, and drive traffic to local businesses; host formal welcoming events/ribbon-cutting ceremonies; work with existing businesses on transition plans and needs; assist in accessing regional, state, and federal resources; share ideas and concepts working in other places; and serve as a connector within and outside of the community.
State agencies and nonprofit organizations could connect businesses in rural communities through their networks or to other resources for business planning or marketing. They might be particularly helpful for niche businesses and start-ups that fall outside a traditional model. One idea for either the public or private sector to consider is to create pools of specialists—like accountants or marketers—for a small rural business to access as a shared resource. State agencies are also skilled at creating “one-stop shops” for current issues affecting Kansas business owners once common stumbling blocks are identified. These portals can reduce the friction of obtaining operating licenses and cut down on surprises as a business gets ready to open. Industry organizations can also help with these education efforts.
Retention of our current residents is just as crucial as attracting new ones. By supporting those who are already here, we can ensure they feel valued and are given the opportunities they need to thrive. This approach not only strengthens our communities but also builds a compelling case for others to join a state that takes care of its own. Kansas has a unique opportunity to set an example by prioritizing the well-being of its current residents while simultaneously attracting new talent.
Thank you for considering this perspective. By addressing the needs of both current and prospective Kansans, we can create a more inclusive and prosperous future for our state. I hope that the leaders of the "Love, Kansas" campaign will take these concerns into account and work towards a more balanced approach that supports all residents of our great state.
Peacefully,
John Brown